Best Family Summer Vacation Tips

How to Make This Summer One of the Best for Your Family 

The reality of life is that unless you have access to mass funds, you have to work for a living. This means that when you have a family, you’ve got to become a master at balancing work and life. For several families, this means making the most of summer vacations as this is when the kids get the most time off school. As a parent, you may wonder how you can ensure that your children feel your presence and enjoy being at home full-time during summer vacation. Here, you’ll find some tips on how you can make this summer one of the best yet for your family. 

This post contains Amazon Affiliate links.

Tips to Have the Best Summer Vacation

Be Present 

The first summer vacation tip for making this summer memorable for your family is to be fully present. This is hard to do in a digital age where people are constantly glued to their phones, tablets, and any other device they can find. Parenting meditation, which is when you focus on hearing, seeing, and understanding your kids can help you stay in each moment with your family and drown out the background noise. 

It also helps when you put your gadgets away while spending time with your kids. Remember, it’s all about them for that moment, so if possible, let everything else wait until later. 

Have Allocated Quality Time 

The next vacation tip is to focus on quality over quantity. It has often been said that it’s less about how much time you spend with your kids and more about the quality of the time that you spend. So ensure you allocate time that will be spent with your family and try to stick with it.

To spend more quality time with the kids, make the most of your everyday routine. This means inviting them to cook with you, making cleaning up fun and taking walks instead of the car. Also, making a conscious effort to eat at least one meal a day together could make a world of difference too. 

Go on Vacation 

If you can afford it, why not take your family on vacation this summer? Going on an adventure to a new place is one way to create unforgettable memories. Believe it or not, an affordable destination that everyone in your family may enjoy is Indonesia. It’s home to the famous Bali, and there are more than enough activities for you to do there as a family. They also have family-friendly villas in Seminyak that you should consider when you’re looking for accommodations. 

Plan Activities 

Instead of guessing your way through each day, why not plan your activities instead? Think about one or two fun things you can do with the kids every week so that you all have something to look forward to. It could be as simple as having a small family BBQ or planning a family and friends game’s night. 

This is also your chance to explore your city and go to museums, festivals or anything else you may find interesting. Think about creating something tangible with your kids, whether it’s a family tree, scrapbook, or painting. This will give you  memory to look back and smile about once it’s time to head back to school.

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Corn on the Cob Recipe with Cheese

Easy Recipes: Cheesy Corn on the Cob

This cheesy corn on the cob recipe is so simple, it's ridiculous! Inspired by a menu picture at a steak restaurant, I knew it'd taste yummy. The picture showed corn on the cob with red and black seasoning oozing with what looked like cheese. It turned out to be butter, but I decided to try to recreate what I thought I saw: corn on the cob with cheese. Enjoy!

This post contains affiliate links.

How to Make Cheesy Corn on the Cob Recipe

Ingredients:

4 fresh ears of corn

1/2 t. salt

Salt, red pepper, and black pepper to taste

4 slices Havarti cheese

2 T butter, divided

Directions:

1. Shuck the corn, and clear away the silks. In a large pot, add enough water to cover the ears. Remove the corn. Add 1/2 t. salt and 1 T butter. Heat the water to boiling. Add the ears of corn. Boil 6 minutes. Remove the ears and let them cool 5 minutes.  

2. Season the corn with salt, red pepper, and black pepper to taste. Melt 1 T butter. Coat the ears with the melted butter. Top with the Havarti cheese slices, tearing each slice so that the entire length of corn is covered in cheese.

3. Broil the ears on high approx. 2 minutes, or until the cheese browns slightly.

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3 Tips to Stay Hydrated this Summer

On the Go Tips to Stay Hydrated in Summer 

KCC is a member of the Mom it Forward Influencer Network. This post is sponsored by BODYARMOR. However, all thoughts and opinions are our own.

Our kids are active and always on the go. They love team sports. So, we're always looking for ways to stay hydrated in the summer heat. This summer, we tried a new sports drink with electrolytes and the kids loved it! We've got some tips to help active kids stay hydrated in the summer while playing football, baseball, soccer, or even swimming. Keep reading for tips to stay hydrated this summer and a fun giveaway. Enjoy!

This post may contain affiliate links.

The kids can't get enough soccer, basketball, football, swimming, and running. Whatever team sport they do, we love watching them play. One of the things we talk a lot about is how to stay hydrated without adding a lot of junk ingredients.

To keep their team hydrated, the coaches encourage sports drinks as a way to restore and balance electrolytes. While we agree with that goal, we don't always love the ingredient list on some of the popular sport drinks.

Ways to Stay Hydrated this Summer

Tip #1

• Topping our list of cool ways to stay hydrated this summer is BODYARMOR sports drink. We're delighted to see a new sports drink with electrolytes that contains no artificial flavors or sweeteners. BODYARMOR SuperDrink smells divine and is a great tasting, premium sport drink that is low in sodium and includes coconut water.

Ways to keep kids hydrated in summer.

We've already started football practice and this 15-pack of BODYARMOR provides quick recovery and hydration for these hot, summer practices. It will be a regular drink at practices and games throughout the season. Here's why:

• BODYARMOR is a premium sports drink with potassium-packed electrolytes, coconut water and vitamins – and has no artificial flavors or sweeteners
• BODYARMOR provides superior hydration and comes in 9-great tasting flavors: fruit punch, orange mango, strawberry banana, tropical punch, blackout berry, mixed berry, grape, watermelon strawberry and lemonade.
• BODYARMOR is a better alternative to traditional sports drinks, because it contains no artificial flavors or sweeteners and has potassium packed electrolytes, vitamins and coconut water. 

We've been taking advantage of the beautiful weather and spending lots of time outside and at the pool and the kids are thrilled when BODYARMOR is a part of their healthy snack break. What a super drink for active kids! You can get yours at Sam's Club.

Our kids love the flavors they've tried. We love that it contains potassium-packed electrolytes, coconut water, and vitamins. It's an awesome and healthier alternative to traditional sport drinks while still providing the needed benefits for hard working, sweaty kids! If they aren't drinking enough water, the kids will stay hydrated with BODYARMOR. 

Your little athletes are sure to love BODYARMOR too. You can feel great about giving it to them! Kids Creative Chaos kids and moms approve.

Some Facts about BODYARMOR Sports Drink

• Premium sports drink with no artificial flavors or sweeteners
• Healthier alternative to traditional sports drinks
• BODYARMOR provides your body with Superior Hydration
• Potassium-packed electrolytes
• Coconut water
• Vitamins
• High in potassium, low in sodium
• Available now to purchase at Sam’s Club 

On sale $12.98 (save $3.00) till July 16th, 2017. Is your young athlete working to be the best? Check out how your athlete can become the next BODYARMOR athlete.

Tip #2

• Another yummy way to stay hydrated is with YOGURT ICE CUBES. Pop them in your ice chest for a quick on the go snack while you're sitting on the sidelines. You'll be the most popular mom on the bleachers when the athletes taste this healthy hydrating snack.

Hydrate with yogurt ice cubes.

Tip #3

• You need to stay cool to stay hydrated. So, even if you're drinking hydrating sports drink and eating yogurt ice cubes, the best tip is to cool off, drink lots of water, and rest in the shade. The United States Department of Labor suggests water, rest, and shade to stay hydrated in summer heat.

GIVEAWAY
One winner will receive a BODYARMOR cooler and a Sam’s Club membership. To enter, hop over to our Kids Creative Chaos Instagram profile and comment on the BODYARMOR post. Contest ends Midnight EST July 12, 2017

Get Social with BODYARMOR

Facebook     
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#Switch2BODYARMOR #BringIt

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Leftover Barbecue Meat Recipe: Easy Cowboy Baked Beans

Easy Weeknight Dinner: Turn Leftover BBQ Meat into Cowboy Baked Beans

Summer is barbecue season in the states. We have Memorial Day, family reunions, Independence Day, and Labor Day. All of these summer activities are perfect for barbecuing. Chicken, hot dogs, brats, steak, ribs, pork chops, baked beans- we want to make sure we have enough for everyone. Sometimes, we over plan and over cook. All of that leftover barbecued meat is expensive. You don't want to throw it away. When microwaved, it doesn't taste so good. You need some leftover BBQ meat recipes. Leftover BBQ meat stew is good, but most kids don't like stew. What's a poor cook to do? We've got a roundup of leftover recipes for barbecued meat including some yummy Cowboy Baked Beans. Enjoy!

This post contains Amazon Affiliate links.

Easy weeknight recipe: Easy Cowboy Baked Beans from leftover BBQ.

The day after an outdoor barbecue, you may find yourself inundated with leftovers: leftover beans, leftover meats, and cooked veggies. The meat is dried out. It doesn't taste so great on day number two, what can you do? Turn those leftovers into Cowboy Baked Beans. These are super easy to make!

Recipe for Leftover BBQ Meat, Cowboy Baked Beans

Take your leftover meats and cut them into bite size pieces.

Use leftover baked beans- if you don't have baked beans, use canned baked beans.

Simmer the beans over low heat. If the beans are flavored, you don't need to do anything else for a super easy weeknight dinner. We like to add 1/2 C. Barbecue Sauce to 2 - 16 oz. cans of baked beans. If you really want to eat like a cowboy on the ranch, add 2 Tbs. of Molasses.

Next, add the chopped leftover meat from your barbecue. If you like onions, add 1/4 C. chopped onion. Stir until combined. Stew over medium heat until bubbly. Turn heat down and simmer another 5 minutes. Sprinkle shredded Colby Jack Cheese over top of beans.

Serve warm with a side of sourdough bread.

Cowboy Baked Beans from leftovers.

Here are some more things to do with leftover barbecue meat:

Leftover Barbecue Stew 

10 Leftover BBQ Meat Recipes

Leftover Grilled Steak Bruschetta

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Chicken Avocado Recipe

Avocado Chicken Recipe

Looking for lighter, healthier options for summer? Our easy Chicken Avocado Recipe is perfect. You cook it in a skillet! This recipe is modified from an Avocado Chicken Recipe we found on CookingClassy.com. It looked so good, we had to try it. Enjoy!

This post contains affiliate links for your convenience.*

Easy Chicken Avocado Recipe.

Ingredients:

1 lb. skinless and boneless chicken* breasts

salt and pepper

1 t. Italian seasoning

1/2 t. basil

1/2 t. garlic powder

2 T. olive oil

2 avocado, peeled and sliced

2 medium tomatoes, sliced

3 mozzarella cheese balls, sliced

*3 T. balsamic glaze

Skillet Avocado Chicken.

Directions:

1.  Place the chicken breasts between layers of plastic wrap.  Pound them to a consistent thickness with the side of a meat tenderizer.

2.  Season each side the chicken breasts with salt and pepper, to taste.

3.  Mix the Italian seasoning, basil and garlic powder in a small bowl.

4.  Coat each side of the chicken with the combined spices.

5.  Heat the oil in a large skillet on medium-high heat. Add the chicken breasts. Cook until the chicken is browned, approx. 5 minutes. Turn over chicken and continue cooking until the inside temperature reaches 160 degrees F, approx. 5 minutes.

6.  Top the chicken with slices of mozzarella cheese, tomato, and avocado. Cover the skillet.  Continue cooking until the cheese melts and chicken reaches 165 degrees F.

7.  Remove the chicken from the skillet and drizzle with balsamic glaze.

Tip:

*  I did not have balsamic glaze. It is fairly easy to make. Add approx. 1/2 c. balsamic vinegar to a small pot. Bring to a simmer. Reduce the heat to low and continue cooking until the vinegar reduces to desired consistency.

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August Calendar Printable: Special Days

August 2018 Special Days Printable Calendar

Looking for an August Calendar Printable? This 2018 special days calendar links to companion activities for each special day in August. Print it out to use in the classroom, and keep track of all the fun days ahead. Enjoy!

This post may contain affiliate links. 

Click links below image for the most recent calendar of special days 2018.

UPDATED - CLICK TO SEE 2018 CALENDAR

August Special and Fun Days Calendar 2018

UPDATED - CLICK TO SEE 2018 CALENDAR

Get this version here: August 2018 Printable Calendar Special Days. Get Free PDF Calendar.

Click the link under the image to find our August Calendar Printable 2018 template with links to activities and crafts for Special Days and Holidays in August. The printable is 8.5 x 11, landscape without a border. When open, click file, make a copy, and then you can save your copy and edit it to your heart's desire!!

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Things to do in Indianapolis in Summer: Great Times

Have a Great Time this Summer in Indy

This summer has taken forever to get here, but we see the signs, and we're following them! If you are looking for things to do in Indianapolis this summer, we've got a fun activity for you. Don't forget to bring the BANANA BOAT® Sunscreen, you'll need it with all of the great, summer, outdoor activities. Indiana weather changes minute by minute. You never know what kind of weather you're going to get! We decided to spend the day exploring all of the fun things to do at Great Times in Indy. The best activities are the outdoor ones. That's why we stopped at Walmart to get some BANANA BOAT® products.

BANANA BOAT®  Sunscreen has products for swimming, sporting, and lounging on the beach.

BANANA BOAT® has a tons of products for kids. Whether you are sporty, swim in a pool, or on the beach, BANANA BOAT® has you covered. If your kids are like mine, they hate being covered in sunscreen, especially if they aren't swimming. The spray on sunscreen from BANANA BOAT® is perfect for kids in a hurry to get to the fun activities.

What is the best sunscreen for Summer Activities for kids?

So, you need to make it as fun as possible. We made up a song to sing while applying sunscreen. You've heard you are supposed to sing your ABC's to brush your teeth, why not sing to apply sunscreen too! Each time you reapply, be sure to sing the sunscreen song! The lyrics to our song are shared below. Make it a part of your sunscreen routine.

• Sunscreen, sunscreen, protect my skin while I play.
• Sunscreen, sunscreen keep me safe all through the day.

Did you know that sun protection requires 1 oz.every 2 hours in the sun? I didn't. Be sure to apply about 2 tablespoons of sunscreen to yourself and your kids' entire bodies 30 minutes before going outside and then reapply every two hours or immediately after swimming or excessive sweating.

So, now that we're all prepared for a great time in the sun, let's talk about Great Times Family Fun Center. We went on a Thursday and to our delight, all activities were all inclusive from 11-6 with the purchase of an $11.50 per person, three hour wrist band. Yep, we spent 3 hours in the sun! And guess what... You guessed it! No sunburn.

First, the bumper boats!

Bumper Boats in Indianapolis at Great Times.

Their favorite thing to do was ride the go-karts, the ride is nice and long. These are on an all concrete track in full sun, so don't forget to reapply your sunscreen.

Go karting at Great Times is a fun thing to do in Indy in the sun!

There's also a very cool miniature golf course.

Things to do in Indianapolis in Summer: Great Times.

After all of the fun in the sun, you can go inside for a bite to eat, play games, or climb through the maze room. We'll be spending a lot of time here this summer. Good thing we have our trusty BANANA BOAT® SPF 50.

Banana Boat® Sunscreen SPF 50 Kids Free.

This is a sponsored conversation written by me on behalf of Banana Boat® . The opinions and text are all mine.

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